Coming Down the Avenue

From Betty Boop to Bullwinkle, Eddie Cantor and Hello Kitty, a look at the balloon characters that have joined the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade over the years.

Updated Nov. 22, 2012 8:36 a.m. ET

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With multiple small balloons and a floating woman, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade passed down Broadway in New York City on Nov. 27, 1930. The first parade, in 1924, featured animals from the Central Park Zoo. The first balloon, Felix the Cat, joined the show in 1927.
Associated Press…

The parade in 1931. In some of the earliest years featuring helium balloons, the balloons were released at the end of the parade and allowed to float freely above the city. They carried return-address labels offering prizes from Macy's in exchange for their safe return.
CSU Archives/Everett Collection…

A balloon designed to look like the singer and comedian Eddie Cantor featured in the parade on Nov. 29, 1934.
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A hippopotamus balloon floated through Times Square during the 1940 parade.
Everett Collection…

The 1946 parade featured a giant floating baseball player.
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An inflated Popeye floated above the parade as it neared Times Square on Nov. 26, 1961.
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The Minnesota moose character Bullwinkle paraded down the avenue in the 1975 parade.
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At the end of the 1986 parade, a Betty Boop balloon lost its helium as it moved down Broadway near 49th Street; the balloon ended up not finishing the route.
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Garfield the Cat, followed by Snuggle the Bear, drifted down Broadway in the 1989 parade.
Ron Frehm/Associated Press…

In 1990, Bart Simpson and his skateboard joined the parade.
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Woody Woodpecker led a series of balloons and floats into Times Square on Nov. 23, 1995.
Paul Hurschmann/Associated Press…

Spectators got an up-close look at the Pink Panther balloon from a balcony of a Times Square building on Nov. 28, 1996.
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The Arthur balloon made its way down Broadway Nov. 22, 2001.
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